A lot of people claim that fasting is not healthy for women. This is only partly true.
To be specific, it is only true for the last week of the menstrual cycle.
The reasons are the sex hormones changing their levels throughout the cycle.
Day 1-10:
Estrogen, Testosterone and Progesterone are low
Estrogen slowly building up until it peaks at mid-ovulation, around day 13
Positive Effects of Estrogen:
supporting healthy skin
strong bones and ligaments
raising mood
making you feel optimistic
giving mental clarity
calming the fear center
enabling to handle stressful events
Day 11-15
During ovulation period especially testosterone and estrogen affect you
Positive Effects of Testosterone:
feeling powerful
mental clarity
increasing muscle strength
raising energy
Day 16-18
Hormones dip again making you feel similar to the first week of your cycle with a slight dip in energy. Now body prepares for making progesterone.
Day 19-bleed
High in progesterone, peaking 6 days after ovulation, to prepare the uterine lining for a fertilized egg to implant.
Effects of progesterone:
calming
urge to chill more and socialize less
Takeaway message:
First half: While estrogen production is disturbed by high glucose and insulin levels, it is less affected by cortisol. Fasting, low carb and intense exercise can benefit estrogen production and stressful events can be handled better.
Second half: On the opposite, cortisol disturbs progesterone, even if it’s coming from good stressors like exercise and fasting! If cortisol spikes to much in this phase less DHEA is produced which is a precursor for progesterone. Leading to premenstrual symptoms, missed cycles, spotting, increased irritability and trouble sleeping. Even restricting carbohydrates can decline its level as progesterone is in need of glucose. Therefore it’s recommended not to fast one week before your period and generally implement less stressors in the second half of the cycle.
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